Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 113 - 102: Vajra Body Perfection, Tendon Pills for Sale! (First Update)

Chapter 113: Chapter 102: Vajra Body Perfection, Tendon Pills for Sale! (First Update)

Vajra Body, one of the top eighth-grade Martial Arts of Vajra Temple, one of the Five Great Powers of Cyan Cloud, was also the first Cross-Training Martial Arts cultivated by Su Mu. When it was only at Small Success, it had already helped Su Mu stand his ground against Zhou Tiande of the Flame Banner.

After reaching Great Success, Ghost-Hand Scholar Zhou Qing’s sword was caught barehanded between Su Mu’s two fingers. Even after Su Mu activated Pill Force, not even a top Yijin Martial Artist like the Cyan-Faced Bat King—one of the Four Guardians of Black Mountain who had mastered Transforming Force—could break Su Mu’s defense.

The might of this Cross-Training Martial Arts is self-evident. Even throughout a hundred years of Vajra Temple’s history, those who could cultivate this art to Great Success within ten years could be counted on one hand.

And now, under the boost of terrifying Comprehension, it had been less than a year since Su Mu formally began cultivation, yet he had already attained the Realm of Perfection. With such accomplishment in Vajra Body, even in Vajra Temple, any disciple who saw him would have to address him as High Monk or Master.

No wonder the Cyan-Faced Bat King mistook Su Mu for a big baldy that day.

"After Vajra Body reached Perfection, compared to Great Success, my physique has improved by about forty percent overall. If I activate Vajra Body, my defense should at least double!"

Forty percent may not seem like much, but Su Mu’s physique was already extraordinarily stronger than ordinary people to begin with; this forty percent is an upgrade breaking past his previous limits, and every bit of improvement is hard-earned and precious.

Su Mu felt the power in his body now, and was confident that even without any resistance, even if a Refining Power Martial Artist struck at him with Power in hand and a Blade Soldier, they would hardly be able to injure him in the slightest.

Comprehension: 58 (Hidden-Dragon Level)

Hmm?

As his Comprehension broke through, a current of warmth far beyond those before surged through his meridians. Su Mu soon uttered a soft ’eh’, as he sensed the Medicinal Power of the Muscle-Protecting Pill being activated.

With a thought, Su Mu entered a state of Introspection.

Soon he found that all his meridians were greedily absorbing nourishment from this current of warmth born from the Comprehension breakthrough. Although the warmth was scalding, its medicinal nature was extremely proper and gentle, not harming the tendons in the least.

So after the Medicinal Power of the Muscle-Protecting Pill was triggered, it quickly settled back down in his body.

"So that’s how it is... perhaps my meridians began being tempered as far back as Five Animals Qigong, only previously, most of the warmth was absorbed by my flesh and bones."

Thoughts spinning rapidly, Su Mu began multi-tasking, using his Qi Blood and Power to accelerate the swallowing of the Comprehension warmth by the meridians.

As powerful Pill Force circulated, the meridians almost monopolized the Comprehension warmth. It felt as if flames were forging all his tendons; the Muscle-Enhancing efficiency was leagues beyond medicinal baths, multiplied several times, or even over tenfold.

Immediately, Su Mu felt both pain and joy; not long after, he slowly opened his eyes with a look of lingering satisfaction.

"Just this one surge of Comprehension warmth is almost equal to half a month of medicinal baths... what a pity, if it lasted a few more hours, perhaps I could directly break through to Yijin."

Su Mu only thought so, but after discovering this, his motivation for Martial Arts practice reached new heights—he could now nurture his tendons with secret medicine and also use the warmth from comprehension to accelerate progress.

"Can this warmth be used for the Fourth Bone Forging?"

Su Mu thought it was likely, but for now, there was no need. He now possessed the recipe for Bone-Forger Ointment, and the Fourth Bone Forging was only a matter of time. When the ointment’s effect began to wane, it wouldn’t be too late for his bones to devour the warmth.

"Tomorrow is the last auction of the year. I’ll go and take a look."

...

The White Jade Gang held an auction in Baihe Town every fifteenth day of the month. As year’s end approached, the last auction of the year, though inferior to the Qingyun Auction, was still far grander than regular ones.

At present, Su Mu had been given leave by all three masters he worked under and didn’t even have to go to the Forging Workshop. Uncle Wu had long granted him the privilege of taking days off without reporting in.

At daybreak, the warm sun dispelled the gloom of days past, spreading golden light over the frost-and-snow-covered streets; the weather was still bitterly cold, but also brought a measure of warmth.

In the sunlight, the Rice Hat Wanderer arrived in Baihe Town after half a year. He flashed his Silver Order of the Blade and, upon entering Baihe Town, headed straight for the Baiyu Trading Company.

On the east bank of the frozen lake, a stretch of vermillion lacquered pavilions stood tall and imposing. Set atop a whole slab of carved White Jade, the four gilded characters for "White Jade Commerce Association" gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

"A plaque of White Jade; the White Jade Gang... quite lavish indeed."

Even though the Baihe Town area was rich in Mountain Jade, such a huge piece of flawless White Jade was rare, yet the White Jade Gang had made it their Commerce Association’s signboard.

As Su Mu approached, he was greeted at once by a tall woman in a pale yellow dress.

"I’d like to consign an item for auction at your Commerce Association."

After speaking, Su Mu flashed his Silver Order of the Blade once more. The maid’s expression changed slightly, growing noticeably more respectful. "Honored guest, please come this way."

"Lead the way."

Su Mu spoke indifferently; on this visit, he chose not to use the White Jade Order—there was no need to consume his favor with the White Jade Gang for such a trivial matter.

Soon, Su Mu was led into a study of classic elegance, where a gaunt yet sharp-eyed elder arrived. "This humble one is Zhang Yu, an appraiser with the Commerce Association. May I know what item the honored guest wishes to auction?"

Su Mu did not waste words, directly producing a Tendon Pill and handing it over.

The elder’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw the sandalwood box. He took it, opened it, brought it to his nose for a sniff, and examined it for a good while, then had a look of skepticism mixed with surprise.

"Honored guest, are you auctioning this Tendon Pill?"

"Correct."

"Does the honored guest have any other Tendon Pills? Our Commerce Association can directly purchase them at three thousand taels each."

Three thousand taels apiece, and direct purchase?

Su Mu’s heart stirred with some surprise; his original psychological expectation was around one thousand five hundred taels—after all, the Shopkeeper at Black Heart Pharmacy had once said it was worth a hundred gold coins.

Evidently he’d underestimated the value of the Tendon Pill. In Su Mu’s eyes, after taking this pill, the entire body’s tendons would harden directly, halting any further progress on the Martial Path—wholly harmful, with not a single benefit.

But to Jianghu folk, and even the Five Great Powers, it was a treasure. With just one of these, they could produce a Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artist. Although the cost was the end of their Martial Path, and their fighting strength was about thirty percent less than a normally promoted Yijin Martial Artist, they would at least become a Seventh-Grade Yijin.

Moreover, Yijin cultivation was perilous, and consumed a great amount of silver notes; many preferred to swallow a Tendon Pill, thinking that reaching Seventh-Grade was already lucky—most dared not hope for further progress.

Su Mu then considered that businessmen seek profit, and the price of this pill likely exceeded three thousand taels.

"That’s too low."

Thinking of this, Su Mu replied coolly.

The elder’s eyes flashed with a strange light. He pretended to deliberate, then spoke, "How about four thousand taels apiece? Last year, our White Jade Commerce Association also auctioned Tendon Pills, and after deducting a twenty-percent commission, the price was about this."

"So be it, four thousand taels each. At the same time, I want an entry pass to the auction."

"As you wish; a pleasure doing business."

The elder was not surprised to hear there was only one pill. The alchemical process for a Tendon Pill was complex; there were very few Alchemists at Hundred Elixir Tower who could concoct it, not to mention that some ingredients—like Demon Beast Blood—had to be sourced from outside Qingyun County.

The elder then summoned someone to withdraw the silver notes. Su Mu took the silver notes and a Copper Token engraved with White Jade before departing.

After leaving the White Jade Gang, Su Mu’s eyes flashed as he noticed a little tail following behind. Su Mu went to the iron shop where he’d bought a Zen Staff before, and slipped into a narrow alley behind it.

Soon, the little tail trailed after him, but when he realized Su Mu had given him the slip, he was stunned. This Bone Forger Martial Artist from the White Jade Commerce Association had clearly seen Su Mu turn into the alley.

"Worthy of a Silver Blade Catcher—indeed outstanding."

With that, the person from the White Jade Commerce Association quickly departed.

After shaking off the tail, Su Mu went to the Market and casually bought a White Fox Mask. After putting it on, he doffed his rice hat, used the Small Faceless Transformation Technique to change his appearance and build, and returned to the White Jade Commerce Association. This time, he was greeted by a blue-robed maid.

"Are you here to attend the auction, sir? Do you have a Token?"

"Please come with me."

Su Mu produced the Token, the maid examined it, then turned to lead Su Mu to the underground auction hall in the pavilion. The hall was spacious enough for hundreds, and every seat was numbered.

"You may select any empty seat in this section."

There were already over twenty people in the hall, many dressed in finery, looking like merchants, while others in close-fitting garb were clearly from the Jianghu. All attendees wore masks and were in disguise.

After entering, Su Mu chose a quiet, unoccupied corner seat—number Ding Ninety-Nine. His eyes paused momentarily on the ’Ding’ of the seat number before he calmly sat, closed his eyes, and rested.

Su Mu planned to acquire a few herbs at this auction; if there was strong liquor, he intended to bid for some as well. The Pharmacist had given him a shopping list the other day; other than that, Su Mu didn’t expect much, taking the chance to observe the White Jade Gang’s auction. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Time passed, with auction participants arriving one after another. In the end, over a hundred people filled the main hall, and several more appeared in boxes outside the hall.

At 9:45 AM, the auction officially began with the crisp sound of a copper gong.

A tall woman in a rouge-red dress walked gracefully onto the central stage, bowing with poise as her eyes brimmed with allure.

"This humble one is Lian Ting of White Jade Commerce Association. Thank you all, honored guests, for coming through snow and frost..."